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German Immigration News
Our VISAGUARD blog on immigration law in Germany: All important immigration news from the areas of law, politics, and society.
Economically questionable: New Welcome Center opens in Munich
The new Welcome Center in Munich was inaugurated with a festive soft opening , aiming to welcome international professionals with open arms. But while the facade gleams and cooperation partners like the Goethe-Institut are ready to go, a crucial question arises for us as experts in visa law: Can a new advisory service remedy the structural deficiencies of an authority that can barely fulfill its legal obligations? Welcome Centers and the role of the Goethe-Institut The
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Mar 24 min read
Employment of foreigners: Government wants to relax work ban for asylum seekers
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced a far-reaching reform with his "Immediate Employment Plan," aimed at integrating asylum seekers into the labor market more quickly and with less bureaucracy . This initiative could be a valuable incentive for integration, something many experts and employers' associations have long awaited. As a law firm specializing in visa law, we see this project as a potentially significant step toward reducing bureaucratic hurd
Isabelle Manoli
Mar 13 min read
Rhineland-Palatinate proposes a change in the law to ensure a seamless transition from education to employment
Imagine a young person from a third country who has invested years of hard work and dedication in their vocational training in Germany. They've completed their apprenticeship, the company is eagerly awaiting their arrival as a fully qualified professional , and the employment contract is already signed. But instead of the first day of work, they're met with bureaucratic disappointment: a legal vacuum between the end of the apprenticeship and the granting of their new re
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Mar 13 min read
File an objection against the obligation to attend an integration course
An integration course obligation is an administrative act by which the immigration authorities require a foreign national to participate in a state-funded integration course . The integration course is necessary, for example, for obtaining a permanent residence permit , but can also be relevant in the context of labor migration. An obligation to participate can exist, for instance, when a foreign national who is permanently resident in Germany is granted a residence per
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Feb 283 min read
Relocation Berlin: What is important for employers to know in 2026?
Imagine you've finally landed the perfect specialist for your company after months of searching. The contracts are signed, the accelerated skilled worker procedure under Section 81a of the German Residence Act has been successfully completed, and the visa is gleaming in their passport. The champagne is ready in the HR office. But on the scheduled start date, you receive news that brings the entire project crashing down: your new employee is desperately stuck in an outrage
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Feb 283 min read
Digitalization: Leipzig Immigration Office begins using AI for case processing
Who hasn't experienced this? A trip to the immigration office often feels like an odyssey through endless waiting times, incomprehensible forms, and an opaque process. Many of our clients regularly tell us about their frustrations and the feeling of being lost in the bureaucratic jungle . But recently, a new hope has emerged: The increasing digitalization of administrative processes, especially the use of artificial intelligence (AI), promises a revolution in the processing
Isabelle Manoli
Feb 273 min read
Allaboutberlin.com: Naturalization in Berlin takes approximately 7-9 months.
In Berlin, the naturalization process often resembles a black box: you throw in your documents and wait months, sometimes over a year , for any sign of life. The most pressing question from our clients is therefore almost always: "How long does it really take right now?" While the authorities often remain vague, new data analyses are shedding light on the murky world of Berlin's administrative practices. A dynamic is emerging that both offers hope and demands strategic ac
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Feb 273 min read
Naturalization times are also a disaster in Lübeck.
The decision to settle in a new country and acquire its citizenship is a profound step, often accompanied by great hopes and expectations. But what if this path becomes not only lengthy but unnecessarily arduous? What if the responsible authorities, who are supposed to ensure a smooth process, themselves become the biggest obstacle ? In cities like Lübeck, thousands of people are currently experiencing precisely this frustrating reality . Applications for naturalizatio
Isabelle Manoli
Feb 274 min read
Ruling on family reunification visas for skilled workers: The cut-off date of March 1, 2024 is not discriminatory.
For a long time, family reunification for adult children was an absolute exception under German immigration law. With the reform of the skilled worker immigration law, the legislature broke with this principle for the first time in 2024 – but only for a very narrowly defined group of people. Since March 1, 2024, certain newly arrived skilled workers have been allowed to bring their parents to Germany without having to prove exceptional hardship (so-called long-term visa
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 266 min read
New study reveals racism in government agencies
The results of a large-scale InRa study by the Research Institute for Social Cohesion (FGZ) are now available, and they paint a picture that deeply concerns us as a law firm specializing in visa law. The question is no longer whether The issue is not whether racism exists in German institutions , but how deeply it is rooted in the structures of immigration authorities, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), and the Federal Police. As experts in migration
Isabelle Manoli
Feb 264 min read
Bringing exotic pets to Germany: What you need to know
Do you dream of moving to Germany with your exotic companion – be it a rare reptile, an amphibian, or another special animal ? While moving with dogs or cats already requires planning, importing exotic animals from non-EU countries is a highly complex process. To ensure that you and your pet arrive safely and legally, we have summarized the most important regulations regarding animal health, species protection, and customs . Animal health: Safety first To prevent the in
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Feb 253 min read
The "AllAboutBerlin" guide to deregistration describes important steps when leaving Germany
The article on deregistering your residence from AllAboutBerlin clearly explains how deregistering your residence in Berlin works and what practical steps are required at the citizens' registration office. Deregistration is of great importance for foreign nationals. Giving up your residence is not just an organizational measure, but a mandatory legal obligation under the Federal Registration Act (see Section 17 BMG ). At the same time, it can have direct consequences
VISAGUARD Sekretariat
Feb 242 min read
Ahead of local elections: Frankfurt political parties express ideas for reforming the immigration office
As we approach the 2026 local elections in Frankfurt , the immigration office is once again under scrutiny from city politicians. As a specialized law firm, we are observing with a mixture of skepticism and hope what promises the parties will make to finally loosen Frankfurt's bureaucratic bottleneck. A look back at dark times and hesitant glimmers of hope. It's no secret that Frankfurt's immigration office has historically been considered one of the most difficult in Germ
Isabelle Manoli
Feb 243 min read
External service providers: TLSContact opens service center in Namibia
A significant change is imminent that will restructure the visa application process in Namibia . With the opening of the new TLScontact center in Windhoek, a new player will be introduced, bridging the gap between applicants and German diplomatic missions abroad. The role of TLScontact in the visa process It is important to understand that TLScontact does not decide on the issuance of visas, but rather acts as an external service provider, serving as the interface to t
Isabelle Manoli
Feb 243 min read
Immigration of nursing staff: Massive subsidies as a key pillar?
The risky game with someone else's cash register Imagine you run a medium-sized company in mechanical engineering or skilled trades. You urgently need skilled workers , look beyond Europe's borders, and calculate the costs: language courses, visa fees, travel expenses, integration measures, and the lengthy professional recognition process . Every cent you invest has to be earned back. If the skilled worker isn't a good fit or their qualifications aren't sufficient, you b
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 234 min read
CDU wants to suspend naturalizations - Is that even possible?
Imagine the state halting the issuance of driver's licenses nationwide simply because irregularities surfaced during the theory test at a single driving school. Or consider suspending all tax assessments because a handful of citizens made false statements on their returns. What would be considered an absurd infringement on individual rights in any other area of law is currently being discussed as a serious demand in migration policy . Given the record numbers of over 290,0
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 233 min read
iData, TLScontact, VFS Global and others: How does the collaboration between external service providers and embassies work?
Imagine you're planning an important business trip or the long-awaited family reunification in Germany. You expect governmental sovereignty, discretion, and legal precision. But instead of a German embassy, you suddenly find yourself in a purely private office complex belonging to a globally operating service provider . Amidst ticket machines and paid "VIP services," the nagging question arises: Who's really pulling the strings here? Outsourcing visa processing to exte
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 223 min read
Despite clear legal situation: Federal government extends illegal border controls again
It's a foggy morning at one of Germany's many land borders. Where once there was free passage in the spirit of European unity, traffic is now backed up. Flashing blue lights, uniformed officers, the systematic intrusion into privacy – an image we thought we had long since overcome in a united Europe . But what is superficially presented as a measure to ensure public safety, upon closer legal examination reveals itself to be a highly questionable maneuver by the executive b
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 223 min read
News from Brussels: Passenger rights are to be expanded
It was a moment that brought palpable relief to the corridors of the European Parliament, while in the boardrooms of the major airlines, calculators were likely being pulled out. With an overwhelming majority of 632 votes, Parliament sent a clear signal on January 21, 2026 : consumer protection in the skies is non-negotiable. For a long time, it seemed as if the existing standards could be weakened by economic interests and pressure from the aviation lobby. But the current
Mirko Vorreuter
Feb 213 min read
Applying for an ICT card for the first time within the country: Is that possible?
The ICT card is the central residence permit for employees transferred within a single company . It implements EU Directive 2014/66/EU and is binding on all member states. This is intended to facilitate cross-border mobility , particularly when a transfer takes place partly in several member states or when another EU state remains primarily responsible. International companies, in particular , often assume that an application for the ICT card can be submitted flexib
Mirko Vorreuter, LL.B.
Feb 213 min read
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